The 103rd Aero Squadron was an aviation pursuit squadron of the U.S. Air Service that served in combat in France during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. Its original complement included pilots from the disbanded

Lafayette Escadrille The La Fayette Escadrille () was the name of the French Air Force unit escadrille N 124 during the First World War (1914–1918). This escadrille of the History of the Armée de l'Air (1909–1942)#World War I (1914–1918), ''Aéronautique Mil ...

and

Lafayette Flying Corps The Lafayette Flying Corps is a name given to the American volunteer pilots who flew in the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) during World War I. It includes the pilots who flew with the bona fide Lafayette Escadrille squadron. Numbers The e ...

. One of those pilots, Paul F. Baer, became the first ace of an American unit in World War I.See note below. Baer's fifth victory, as recognized by the Air Force Historical Research Agency, occurred 23 April, more than a month before the fifth of Douglas Campbell. Campbell at that date still had only a single victory. The 103rd Aero Squadron was the first U.S. pursuit squadron in action during World War I and had the longest combat service, from 19 February to 11 November 1918. It earned six battle participation credits, flew 470 combat missions, engaged in 327 combats, destroyed 45 German aircraft in aerial combat and claimed an additional 40 as probably destroyed, shot down two balloons, flew 3,075 hours over the front lines, and dropped 4,620 pounds of bombs. Its casualties were five

killed in action Killed in action (KIA) is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their personnel at the hands of enemy or hostile forces at the moment of action. The United States Department of Defense, for example, ...

, two killed in flying accidents, four

prisoners of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of war for a ...

, three

wounded in action Wounded in action (WIA) describes combatants who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during wartime, but have not been killed. Typically, it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing ...

, and one injured in a forced landing. The commander of the 1st Pursuit Wing, in general orders, said of the 103rd:

"In February last the Lafayette Escadrille of the French Army was transferred to the 103rd Aero Squadron, United States Army. It was the first, and for nearly two months it was the only American Air Service organization on the front. Since that time it is not too much to say that pilots who served in this squadron have formed the backbone of American Pursuit Aviation on the front...No task was too arduous or too hazardous for it to perform successfully. In the recent decisive operations of the First American Army the 103rd Aero Squadron has done its share." – Lt. Col. Burt M. Atkinson, 16 November 1918

The history and lineage of the 103rd Aero Squadron continues as part of the 94th Fighter Squadron of the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...

History

The 103rd Aero Squadron was organized on 31 August 1917 at

Kelly Field Kelly Field (formerly Kelly Air Force Base) is a Joint-use airport, Joint-Use facility located in San Antonio, Texas. It was originally named after George E. M. Kelly, the first member of the U.S. military killed in the crash of an airplane he ...

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

, where its enlisted members, drawn from other units, trained until being moved to

Garden City, New York Garden City is a village located in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 23,272 at the time of the 2020 census. The Incorporated Village of Garden City is primarily located within the Town of Hempstead ...

for preparation for overseas movement. On 23 November 1917 the unit sailed on board the RMS ''Baltic'' from its port of embarkation at New York City. The ''Baltic'' joined a convoy at

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and most populous municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the most populous municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of 2024, it is estimated that the population of the H ...

and arrived at

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

on 7 December 1917. Because of a

measles Measles (probably from Middle Dutch or Middle High German ''masel(e)'', meaning "blemish, blood blister") is a highly contagious, Vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine-preventable infectious disease caused by Measles morbillivirus, measles v ...

outbreak, it was quarantined at Winnall Down Camp outside

Winchester Winchester (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs N ...

until 23 December 1917, when it proceeded to France through

Southampton Southampton is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. It is located approximately southwest of London, west of Portsmouth, and southeast of Salisbury. Southampton had a population of 253, ...

and

Le Havre Le Havre is a major port city in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy region of northern France. It is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the Seine, river Seine on the English Channel, Channe ...

. The squadron arrived at

Issoudun Issoudun () is a commune in the Indre department, administrative region of Centre-Val de Loire, France. It is also referred to as ''Issoundun'', which is the ancient name. Geography Location Issoudun is a sub-prefecture, located in the eas ...

on 28 December 1917, where it spent the month of January constructing hangars for the instructional school being built there. On 1 February it resumed training for combat at the front. On 11 February 1918 Major William Thaw, formerly with the Lafayette Escadrille, took command of the 103rd Squadron at the Ferme de La Noblette, near La Cheppe, followed on 18 February by the assignment of 17 former pilots of the Lafayette Escadrille and Lafayette Flying Corps.; later in 1918 the AEF standardized the

Table of Organization and Equipment A table of organization and equipment (TOE or TO&E) is the specified organization, staffing, and equipment of Military unit, military units. Also used in acronyms as 'T/O' and 'T/E'. It also provides information on the mission and capabilities of ...

for pursuit squadrons at 18 pilots and 25 aircraft Combat operations began almost immediately in early March, using

Spad VII The SPAD S.VII C.1 was the first in a series of single-seat biplane fighter aircraft produced by ''Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés'' (SPAD) during the First World War. Like its successors, the S.VII was renowned as a sturdy and rugge ...

fighters, and flying with the newly formed ''Groupe de Combat 21'' (21st Pursuit Group) of the ''Aéronautique Militaire'' in support of the French 4th Army, and the squadron recorded its first aerial victory on 11 March. At La Noblette, the squadron was relieved by another French Escadrille and moved west on 10 April to the Reims area, in support of the French 6th Army, then north to the coast of the North Sea at

Leffrinckoucke Leffrinckoucke (; ; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Nord (French department), Nord Departments of France, department in northern France. Heraldry Population Twin towns Leffrinckoucke is Twin towns and sister cities, twinned with: ...

on 2 May, to support the French Detachment of Army of the North until 29 June. While at Leffrinckoucke its airdrome was subjected to frequent air attacks, and it received a citation 22 October 1918 from the commander in chief of the French Armies of the North and Northeast for its "brilliance" in operations in the face of adversity. The display of its distinctive "Indian Head" insignia from the Lafayette Escadrille was authorized by the Chief of Air Service AEF, Brig. Gen.

Benjamin Foulois Benjamin Delahauf Foulois (December 9, 1879 – April 25, 1967) was a United States Army general who learned to fly the first military planes purchased from the Wright brothers. He became the first military aviator as an airship pilot, and achie ...

, on 6 May 1918. Two days later 1st Lt. Paul F. Baer shot down two German airplanes to become the first ace of an American unit.Baer's kills were on 11 March, 16 March, 6 April, 12 April, 23 April (half), 8 May (two), 21 May (one quarter), and 22 May. AFHRA credits him with nine victories.
''Gorrell's History'', Series E (Squadron Histories) Volume 16, Part 1 Sheet 13
By mid-May the 103rd was the leading American pursuit squadron, with half of the AEF's 28 aerial victories. Baer was the sole ace of the AEF, with nearly one-third of all victories, but he was shot down in a fight with eight Albatros D.Va fighters of the ''Leutnant der Reserve'' August Raben-led Jasta 18 near Laventie on 22 May, after ''Gefreiter'' Deberitz of Jasta 18 severed the flight control cables of Baer's

SPAD VII The SPAD S.VII C.1 was the first in a series of single-seat biplane fighter aircraft produced by ''Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés'' (SPAD) during the First World War. Like its successors, the S.VII was renowned as a sturdy and rugge ...

with the gunfire from his Albatros, and Baer was captured following his crash, with only a broken knee as his sole injury. Spad S

On 4 July 1918 the squadron relocated to

Toul Toul () is a Communes of France, commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle Departments of France, department in north-eastern France. It is a Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the department. Geography Toul is between Commercy and Nancy, Fra ...

and was assigned to an American command, the 2nd Pursuit Group. On 29 July Thaw moved up to command of the new 3rd Pursuit Group and was replaced by Lafayette Escadrille veteran Capt. Robert L. Rockwell. The 103rd relocated to Vaucouleurs in the

Meuse The Meuse or Maas is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea from the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. It has a total length of . History From 1301, the upper ...

department of France for operations with the 3rd Pursuit Group. In September the squadron shifted northwest to

Lisle-en-Barrois Lisle-en-Barrois (, literally ''Lisle in Barrois'') is a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. It is part of the Bar-le-Duc arrondissement, and is approximately north of Bar-le-Duc itself. As of 2021, the po ...

to support the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. On 18 October, Capt. Robert Soubiran, another Escadrille veteran and a former member of the 103rd, returned to the squadron to take command. The squadron recorded its last aerial combat on 4 November near

Montmédy Montmédy (, ) is a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. Citadel of Montmédy In 1221 the first castle of Montmédy was built on top of a hill by the Count of Chiny. Montmédy soon became the capital of his ...

, claiming three aircraft destroyed. At the hour of the armistice, the squadron had 21 Spad XIIIs and 21 pilots available for operations. Frankhunter-usaf

Three of the five pursuit groups operational at the end of the war were commanded by former pilots of the 103rd Aero Squadron, and ten other pilots were selected to command pursuit squadrons.Thaw, Biddle, and Hill commanded the 3rd, 4th and 5th Groups, respectively, while Soubiran (103rd), Rockwell (103rd), Marr (94th), Peterson (95th), Hill (138th), Bridgman (22nd), Biddle (13th), Baker (141st), Low (185th), and C. M. Jones (28th) received squadron commands. 14 pilots received 21 awards of the French ''Croix de Guerre'', and eight received 17 awards of the Distinguished Service Cross. Seven pilots were recognized as aces with five recording all their kills with the 103rd. Beginning 13 September 1918, 1st Lt. Frank O'D. Hunter shot down eight German aircraft in six weeks, tying Baer for the lead in squadron victories, for which he received five awards of the DSC and the ''Croix de Guerre'' with palm. Baer was released at the Armistice by the Germans and returned to the squadron. He submitted a claim for a kill occurring on the morning he was shot down, which was confirmed, and became the leading ace of the 103rd with nine victories. After the armistice, the squadron was based at Foucaucourt and assigned to the First Army, alerted for possible occupation service with the Third Army. It received nine new pilots in early December, but was taken off operations on 14 December. The squadron's SPAD aircraft were delivered to the Air Service American Air Service Acceptance Park No. 1 at Orly Aerodrome to be returned to the French. There practically all of the pilots and observers were detached from the squadron. All of its pilots except four were transferred out of the squadron by 4 January 1919, and those four by 24 January. The remainder of the squadron and its equipment followed by truck within a week. Soubiran turned over command to the squadron adjutant, 1st Lt. John P. Healy, at Colombey-les-Belles on 1 February 1919. Personnel at Colombey were moved to their port of embarkation at Brest and sailed to New York aboard the armored cruiser USS ''Frederick'' on 19 February 1919. The 103rd returned to Garden City to muster out its personnel, and became a unit on paper only by 18 March. It officially demobilized on 18 August 1919. On 8 April 1924 the 103rd Aero Squadron was reconstituted and consolidated with the 94th Pursuit Squadron to maintain its history and lineage.94th FS USAF Fact Sheet
, AFHRA. Retrieved 2012-11-26.

Lineage

* Organized as 103rd Aero Squadron on 31 August 1917 : Re-designated as: 103rd Aero Squadron (Pursuit), 13 February 1918 : Absorbed American pilots of Escadrille de Lafayette (Aéronautique Militaire), 18 February 1918 : Re-designated as: 103rd Aero Squadron, 4 March 1919 * Demobilized on 18 Aug 1919Series "E", Volume 7, History of the 103rd Squadron. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Assignments

* Post Headquarters, Kelly Field, 31 August 1917 * Aviation Concentration Center, 5 November 1917 * 3rd Air Instructional Center, 28 December 1917 * Air Service Headquarters, AEF, 13 February 1918 : Attached to ''Groupe de Combat 21'',

Fourth Army (France) The Fourth Army (), nicknamed the "Army of Fontainebleau", was a military unit, unit of the French Army, which fought during World War I and World War II. It was one of five armies created and placed on a war footing by the ''Grand Quartier Gén ...

18 February 1918 – 10 April 1918 : Attached to

Sixth Army (France) The Sixth Army () was a field army of the French Army during World War I and World War II. World War I The Sixth Army was formed 26 August 1914, composed of troops from various disparate French armies: two active army corps, the ( 4th and 7th res ...

11 April 1918 to 30 April 1917 : Attached to

Army of the North (France) The Army of the North or is a name given to several historical units of the French Army. The first was one of the French Revolutionary Armies that fought with distinction against the First Coalition from 1792 to 1795. Others existed during th ...

31 April 1918 to 4 July 1918 * 2nd Pursuit Group, 4 July 1918 * 3rd Pursuit Group, 7 August 1918 * 1st Air Depot, 5 January 1919 * Commanding General, Services of Supply, 6–19 February 1919 * Eastern Department, 4 March – 18 Aug 1919

Stations

, Texas, 31 August – 30 October 1917 * Aviation Concentration Center, Garden City, New York, 5 November 1917 :: Overseas transport: RMS Baltic, 23 November – 7 December *

, England, 8 December * Windall Downs Rest Camp,

, England, 8 December *

, England, 23 December * American Rest Camp,

, France, 24 December *

Issoudun Aerodrome Issoudun Aerodrome was a complex of military airfields in the vicinity of Issoudun, Centre, France. They were used during World War I as part of the Third Air Instructional Center, American Expeditionary Forces for training United States airmen ...

, France, 28 December * La Noblette Aerodrome, France, 13 Feb 1918 * Bonne Maison Aerodrome, France, 8 April 1918 * Leffrinckouke Aerodrome, France, 30 April 1918 * Crochte Aerodrome, France, 6 June 1918 * Gengault Aerodrome (Toul), France, 30 June 1918 * Vaucouleurs Aerodrome, France, 7 August 1918 * Lisle-en-Barrois Aerodrome, France, 20 September 1918 * Foucaucourt Aerodrome, France, 6 November 1918 * Colombey-les-Belles Airdrome, France, 5 January 1919 *

Brest, France Brest (; ) is a port, port city in the Finistère department, Brittany (administrative region), Brittany. Located in a sheltered bay not far from the western tip of a peninsula and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an impor ...

, 6–19 Feb 1919 *

, 4–18 Mar 1919 * Undetermined, 19 March – 18 Aug 1919

Combat sectors and campaigns

Aces

*Maj. Gervais Raoul Lufbery, with a total of 17 aerial victories, until his death in combat * Lt. Paul F. Baer, DSC, 9 (2 shared) * Maj. Charles J. Biddle, 1 (1 probable)-Biddle had a total of 7 aerial victories, 1 while serving with Spa73 of the French Air Service, and 5 after being transferred to the

13th Aero Squadron The 13th Aero Squadron was a United States Army Air Service unit that fought on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front during World War I. The squadron was assigned as a Day Pursuit (Fighter) Squadron as part of the 2d Pursuit Group, F ...

. * Lt. George W. Furlow, DSC, 5 (4 shared) * Capt. Frank O'Driscoll Hunter, DSC, 9 (3 shared) * Capt. G. DeFreest Larner, DSC, 5 (3 shared)- Larner a total of 7 aerial victories, 2 while serving with Spa86 of the French Air Service. * Lt. William T. Ponder, DSC, 3 (2 shared- Ponder had a total of 6 aerial victories, 3 while serving with Spa163 of the French Air Service. * LtCol. William Thaw II, DSC, 3 (2 shared)- Thaw had a total of 5 aerial victories, 2 (along with 2 probables) while serving with N.124 of the French Air Service. * Lt. Edgar G. Tobin, DSC, 6 (2 shared, 1 probable)Over the Front: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the United States and French Air Services, 1914–1918 Norman Franks, Frank W. Bailey. Grub Street, 1992. ISBN 0- 948817-54-2, .

Other personnel

* 1Lt. Stuart Emmet Edgar, died shortly after takeoff due to an engine malfunction * Lt. Herbert B. Bartholf, DSC, 2 aerial victories * Lt. Warren E. Eaton, DSC, 1 aerial victory ounder Soaring Society of America">Soaring_Society_of_America.html" ;"title="ounder Soaring Society of America">ounder Soaring Society of America* Lt. John Frost, DSC, 2 aerial victories * Cpt. Christopher W. Ford, DSC, 3 aerial victories * Lt. Ernest A. Giroux, DSC (KIA) * :File:James Normal Hall.pdf">Cpt. James Norman Hall, DSC, 3 aerial victories * Lt. Warren T. Hobbs, SSC (KIA) * Lt. Livingston G. Irving, DSC, 1 aerial victory * Lt. Eugene B. Jones, SSC (KIA) * Cpt. Richard C. M. Page, DSC, 2 aerial victories * Lt. Percy R. Pyne, DSC, 1 aerial victory * Lt. John I. Rancourt, DSC, 1 aerial victory * Lt. Joseph Waddell, SSC DSC: Distinguished Service Cross; SSC: Silver Star Citation; KIA:

Officers assigned during hostilities

Former members of Lafayette Flying Corps in ''italics''; former members of Lafayette Escadrille in bold
A ♦ symbol indicates present for duty on 11 November 1918
Pilots * 2nd Lt. William C. Appleton♦ * ''1st Lt. Paul F. Baer'' (prisoner of war, ace) * 1st Lt. Hobart A.H. Baker * 1st Lt. Herbert B. Bartholf♦ * ''Capt. Charles J. Biddle'' (ace) * Capt. Ray C. Bridgman * 1st Lt. B. Drumond Cannon * 1st Lt. Lawrence E. Cauffman♦ * 2nd Lt. Loran B. Cockrell♦ * ''Capt. Phelps Collins'' (Killed in flying accident) * 1st Lt. Charles H. Dolan * 1st Lt. William E. Dugan Jr. * 1st Lt. Paul W. Eaton (Prisoner of war) * 1st Lt. Warren E. Eaton♦ * ''1st Lt. Stuart E. Edgar'' (Killed in flying accident) * ''2nd Lt. Clarence H. Faith''♦ * 1st Lt. Christopher W. Ford (Prisoner of war) * 1st Lt. John Frost♦ * 1st Lt. George W. Furlow♦ (ace) * 1st Lt. Ernest A. Giroux (Killed in action) * Capt. James N. Hall * Capt. Dudley L. Hill * ''1st Lt. Warren T. Hobbs'' (Killed in action) * 1st Lt. Theodore H. Hubbard♦ * 1st Lt. Frank O'D. Hunter♦ (ace) * 1st Lt. Livingston G. Irving♦ * ''1st Lt. C. Maury Jones'' * 1st Lt. Eugene B. Jones (Killed in action) * 1st Lt. Henry S. Jones * ''1st Lt. Hugo A. Kenyon''♦ * 1st Lt. John O. Kirtland♦ * 1st Lt. John M. Koontz (Wounded in action) * ''Capt. G. DeFreest Larner''♦ (ace) * 1st Lt. Alfred W. Lawson * 1st Lt. Seth Low * 2nd Lt. Wellford MacFadden Jr (Killed in action) * 1st Lt. Dudley H. Manchester♦ * Capt. Kenneth A. Marr * 1st Lt. Martin F. McQuilkin♦ * 1st Lt. Charles I. Merrick * 1st Lt. Cord Meyer * 1st Lt. Charles H. Monroe♦ * 1st Lt. Keene M. Palmer (Killed in action) * 2nd Lt. Samuel H. Paris * Capt. David McK. Peterson * ''1st Lt. William Ponder''♦ (ace) * 1st Lt. Percy R. Pyne♦ * ''1st Lt. John F. Randall'' * Capt. Robert L. Rockwell♦ * 1st Lt. William T. Rolph * 1st Lt. Louis F. Schultze * Capt. Robert Soubiran♦ (last wartime commanding officer) * 1st Lt. McCrea Stephenson * Capt. Edgar Tobin (ace) * 1st Lt. Van Winkle Todd (Prisoner of war) * ''1st Lt. George E. Turnure'' * 1st Lt. Joseph Waddell * 1st Lt. Doyan Parsons Wardwell♦ * ''1st Lt. Charles H. Willcox'' Headquarters * Maj. William Thaw II, Commanding Officer * 1st Lt. Phocion S. Park, Adjutant * 2nd Lt. George A. Orr, Adjutant * 1st Lt. John P. Healy, Adjutant♦ (joined squadron 11 Nov 18) * 1st Lt. Henry V. Bell, Operations Officer♦ * 1st Lt. Dan L. Perkins, Engineering Officer♦ * 1st Lt. Claudius H.M. Roberts, Armament Officer * 2nd Lt. Edward H. Carman, Armament officer♦ * 2nd Lt. William H. Bleeker, Supply Officer * 2nd Lt. Elwood S. Frymire, Supply Officer * 2nd Lt. William B. Carill, Supply Officer * 2nd Lt. Robert L.W. Owens, Supply officer * 1st Lt. Rufus K. Goodenow, Supply Officer♦ * 1st Lt. Sigurd H. Kraft, Medical officer * 1st Lt. Omer O. Gain, Medical Officer * 1st Lt. Carroll D. Evans, Medical officer

Notes

;Footnotes ;Citations

References

"History of the 103rd Aero Squadron", Gorrell's History of the AEF Air Service

Officers assigned to the 103rd Aero Squadron

"Supplementary history of the 103rd Aero Squadron"
*

External links

Spad XIII C.1 of Capt. Robert Soubiran
{{Lists of flying aces Fighter squadrons of the Air Service, United States Army 0103 Military units and formations established in 1917 Military units and formations disestablished in 1919 1917 establishments in Texas